24 foreigners arrested in hotel at Jalan Besar Road for prostitution

Twenty-three women and a man have been arrested at a hotel along Jalan Besar Road for suspected involvement in prostitution.

Police officers conducted raids at the hotel on Wednesday (17 May), resulting in the arrests of the 24 foreigners aged between 20 and 33, the police said in a statement. Yahoo Singapore understands that among the suspects, 22 women and a transgender man are from Thailand and one woman is from Laos.

The suspects allegedly made use of their stay in Singapore on social visit passes to commit vice-related offences. Condoms and lubricants were seized during the raids.

Preliminary investigations showed that they have been advertising their sexual services on different online platforms and vice websites. Customers would book their services via mobile phone numbers or email addresses provided on these websites.

Twenty-four suspects were arrested during the raids in a hotel at Jalan Besar Road on 17 May 2017. Photo: Singapore Police Force

Any person who is convicted of the offence of being a tenant, lessee or occupier or person in charge of a brothel and the offence of keeping, managing or assisting in the management of a brothel faces jail of up to five years or a fine of up to $10,000 or both.

In addition, any person who knowingly lives on the earnings of the prostitution of another person faces jail of up to five years and a fine of up to $10,000 upon conviction.